Word Origin & History

c.1400, from Old French querelos "quarrelsome, argumentative" and directly from Late Latin querulosus, from Latin querulus "full of complaints, complaining," from queri "to complain." Retains the original vowel of quarrel (n.1). Related: Querulously; querulousness.

Example Sentences for querulous

And on his countenance there was a sour, querulous, resentful expression.

A querulous, high-pitched voice, quavering with the palsy of extreme age.

But the children had no awe of the gambler, and their protests were many and querulous.

For the moment, however, Mr. Mix was querulous rather than defensive.

At this moment a querulous, broken voice comes to them from some inner room.

I have also heard from James; he too, talks of success, but in a querulous strain.

"I have been down to the village looking for you," he said, in a querulous tone.

On his face was an expression of querulous surprise as he reeled to the fall.